Electronically Translated Text

During thc past five years (one might] with safety say) of all the vast areas of j pastoral aud agricultural country' in this ]

.State, thc clover belt of our southern andi

south-western districts and the eastern j

Goldfields pastoral country, have attracted ¡ particular interest. It is in these parts, too, ; that most of the decided progress thati has been made during this period has

taken place. Though it is difficult to say ; which of these two areas is destined ulti- mately to become the more valuable, it is quite certaiu that the opening up and development of the eastern Goldfields has been the more 'important, for in these areas have been discovered possibilities, the existence of which had not hitherto been appreciated.

In this work we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Eastern States pastora 1 ist, for he it is who has opened our eyes to the suitability of immense areas of country for merino sheep and wool grow- ing, and lie has backed his judgment finan- cially and in a practical manner. Pas- toralists have come from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to settle in this country and bare spent considerable capital in development work and stocking- These Eastern men include such well-known names as F. C. Allen, S. McCaughey, R. M. McBride, Manifold, I. Black, W. G. Hawkes, F. Ckomley, M. S. Hawker. E. W. Hawker, S. Hawker, J. B. Howe, Rymill Bros., R. Acton Adams. Killicoat Bros., Pearse, Robertson, E. T. Noske, and one or two others. As- sociated with these one must not omit several prominent local pastoralists who, too, have performed a valuable service, particularly Messrs. W. Bright, T. G. Kitching, W. Fitzgerald, E. H. B. Lefroy. C. Foulfces Taylor, W. H- Halford, G. A. Cooper, P. Williams, P. F. Robinson, W. Padbury, Jas- Willis, W. N. Cook, A. Porter, W. C. Hill, F. E. Venn, and others.

The Season.

Fnir seasons, culminating in a really good one in 1927, favoured the development of the new country and improvements went ahead rapidly, while many thousands of very fine station sheep were imported from South Australia and New South Wales. The season last year and until as late as May this year was far from favour .able, and the drought conditions prevail-

ing over practically the whole of this coun- try gave growers a serious reverse, but the country stood the test- The general feel- ing of pleasure and satisfaction when the drought -broke in May last cari, of course, be realised better when it is known that throughout the dry spell pastoralists in almost every part of these areas con- tinued with their development work and big areas of new country were opened up in readiness for stocking when better times came. These better times have now come and it is very pleasing to see such a keen demand for sheep. Already several big sales of both ewes and wethers baVe been effected to goldfields buyers, while in addition three special train loads of well bred stock have been railed across from South Aus-

tralia, and arrangements have been made

for three more to come across in the very near future.

Travelling through these eastern pas- toral areas, one cannot but be impressed by the striking contrast afforded by the country this year after fair rains, as com- pared with the dry, bare, and drought stricken appearance last vyear. At the same time it must not be thought that it is looking its best, for it is not. Generally speaking, the «oft. kinder country and the flats look splendid right from Kalgoorlie to Wiluna, and from there another. 100 miles west to Meekatharra. At the same

time the hard and stony country and the higher land does not look as well as it might, and feed on this class of land is thin and short, though no doubt of great feeding value. The bush and scrub every- where looks well, and has freshened up and made, considerable new .growth -since this season's fains.' .' . ~ * ; > '

On the Stations.

Out from Kalgoorlie itself quite a deal of pastoral progress has been made on such holdings as Mr. E. M. J. T. Fawcett's Bin- neringie Station, and several other small holdings; Travellng northwards to Leo- nora, one passes through numerous old mining centres and camps, all more or less derelict today. Out west of the track, and to the north of Coolgardie, is Credo Sta- tion, owned by Messrs. W. H. Halford and Sons. Numbers are creeping up to- wards the 10.000 mark on this property, and much improvement has taken place. Further west, again, is a newly selected run taken up by the Messrs. Rymill Bros. of Adelaide. Quite a lot of work has been done on this holding in a short time, and I believe it is possible that sheep will be brought across from South Australia this year to stock up.

Back on to thc track once more, and travelling north, one passes through Goon- garrie and Broad Arrow to Comet Vale. On the western side of the line now lies Messrs. Skuthorp and Tripp's Goongarrie Station. Since last year a lot of this country has been fenced and watered, while breeding ewes were secured off shears last year. The country generally is in good heart. Adjoining, Mr .Sku- thorp has another, and, if anything, a bet- ter-watered run in his Riverina Station. Very little improvement work has taken place on this run, which has not yet been stocked with sheep. One now seems to run out of the soft sheep country on to a belt of hard auriferous country, which ex- tends to the township of Menzies, some 80 miles north of Kalgoorlie. At one time one of the busiest and most prosperous towns in Western Australia. Menzies is

known by name at least throughout the length and breadth of the State. Today it is a desolate and deserted collection of wood and iron buildings, reduced in num- ber to a minimum. However, a new indus- try - wool growing-is now putting a little

life into the town, for away to the west, of the line, stretches a valuable belt of pastoral country, which is rapidly being fenced, watered, and generally improved,

in readiness for stocking with sheep. At Ida Valley Messrs. Arthur Male and his ' manager,. Mr. Hogarth have already con- verted portion of this well known cattle

run for sheep which, I believe, have already been purchased to stock it. At Mount Ida Station Mr. T. G. Wilsmore has fenced more country, and, with his run ln fairly good heart, he should be able to build up his numbers during the present season. Messrs. Frank Manford and Sons ara also busily employed with their de- velopment work pn Wyamba, which in the normal course should be able to take a

small breeding flock off shears. Nearby is j

Messrs. Killicoat Bros/ Alfred Downs Sta-, tion. This property embraces another belt of typical merino sheep country, but up to the present time it has been utilised solely as a cattle run. However, the work

of fencing and watering new country in ! readiness for sheep has been in band for several months, and a portion of the run will be stocked accordingly off shears this year. The country is in good heart, and good resulte should attend the efforts of . these progressive growers ia their ven-